arrested 17-year old Abu Sayyaf suspect Al Jakirani, claiming that
this was a violation of his rights provided in the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child and the Revised Penal Code which protects the
rights of alleged offenders under the age of eighteen.
SUARA Fatimats (Suara Women), an organization of Moro women, called
for the immediate release of Jakirani and the prosecution of the
arresting officers under the NISG under orders of Capt. Aragones.
Jakirani, a pedicab driver of Isabela City, was awaiting passengers at
the wharf on March 10 when five soldiers from the Naval Intelligence
Special Group (NISG) accosted him and took him forcibly aboard a navy
boat toward Zamboanga City for his alleged involvement in the 2001
Golden Harvest kidnapping as "Abu Usman".
In 2001, Jakirani was only 11 years old and peddling goods at the wet
market, according to his uncle PO2 Hamjan Alih. Relatives and friends
of Jakirani have been claiming that he was falsely accused as "Abu
Usman" by NISG operatives and that his arrest was a case of 'mistaken
identity'. They have repeatedly called for the immediate release of
their loved one.
The group also noted that Jakirani's arrest was laden with irregularities.
Nudjum Jandul, SUARA Fatimats Chairperson in Isabela City cited the
recklessness on the part of NISG in arresting Jakirani, whose full
name Al Jakirani Y Alih was incompatible with that of supposed Abu
Sayyaf leader Al Hari Jakiri y Alidjan a.k.a. Abu Usman.
The family had earlier asserted that the boy evidently suffered from
torture while in the custody of the NISG. Medical examination
conducted by a government hospital on Jakirani revealed several chest,
sternal and abdominal contusions which resulted from torture during
his tactical interrogation, according to his relatives, while the
medical examination conducted by the military indicated that the
abrasions resulted from an accidental fall.
According to Jakirani's sworn statement, he was mauled and
electrocuted on his genital area thrice during his tactical
interrogation.
"What we fear and what we are actually seeing is a repeat or a sequel
of the military crackdown in Basilan on 2001 where our loved ones
where rounded up and arrested arbitrarily for being alleged Abu Sayyaf
members," Jandul said.
Jakirani is currently detained in the Basilan Provincial Jail. He is
the fourth "Abu Usman" suspect detained in the jail.
"It almost looks like the military is out to fish as many Abu Usman as
they want. We just learned that aside from the four already detained,
two other individuals claimed by the military as Abu Usman are already
dead: Usman Nasalil a.k.a. Abu Usman was killed in an encounter in
Jolo, Sulu while Salip Usman a.k.a. Abu Usman was killed in 2002", she
added.
On March 17, the Commission on Human Rights sent a team to Isabela,
Basilan to look into allegations of torture claimed by relatives. They
have yet to come up with a formal report. The City Prosecutor of
Zamboanga City Ricardo Cabaron also cited in TV Patrol Chavacano that
the arresting officers were ill-advised in the arrest and detention of
Jakirani, citing that the suspect was a minor.
"Arbitrary arrests and illegal detention of innocent people – this is
a reality now in Basilan. This is without the Anti-terror Law in
force. Once that law is applied, it will only embolden the military in
arresting anyone. We fear for the worst - for our families, for
ourselves", adds Jandul.
The group said that they will continue to call for the immediate
release of Al Jakirani. ###
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DAVAO TODAY
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
http://www.davaotoday.com
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